The Blood Heiress

Saturday at 10am

Adella

"This is excellent news." Ben was smiling ear to ear. I was trying to finish my breakfast in time for work. Verity was to my right and picking at her food, her stomach was acting up again.

"How do you do it Addie?" Verity piped up. "I know you have skills and all but to have THE Evander Santos approach you twice for a job...that is literally unheard of." Her eyes shone and she wore a wistful expression.

I shrugged. "I don't know if I entirely trust it Ver."

"Three words Addie. The. Evander. Santos. How could you not trust it?" Verity was giving me some seriously doubting looks.

"It doesn't make sense." My gut still had alarm bells going off but I silenced them again. "But if Ben thinks it is a good idea I trust his judgement." I gave the man to my left a meaningful glance.

"I do, Addie. This is best case scenario for satisfying the requirement. You will be one step closer to taking your role as heiress." He wore a proud expression.

"Hey Bennie, any chance you can fill her in on exactly what that means anytime soon?" I shot Verity a glance, grateful not for the first time that she had guts and very little filter.

"Miss Verity, all in due time. Adella and myself have already discussed what I can and cannot divulge." I watched her roll her eyes at him. I stifled a laugh. Ben stood up and excused himself. "I have some matters to attend to. Have a lovely day Addie. Miss Verity, can we expect you to be taking your meals in suite?"

"Sure. Thanks" Ben nodded and left. Verity turned back to breakfast and successfully tried to swallow some bites of yogurt. Thankfully the food appeared to have settled and she relaxed.

"You're not going to be staying cooped up all day are you?" My raised eyebrows must have been too much for her. She started laughing.

"Addie, you can drop the mother hen act. I am not one of your wayward fellow orphans you have been put in charge to look after." I flinched. She stemmed her laughter and attempted to look contrite. "Sorry, I appreciate you stepping in and helping me get back on track. I am feeling more like myself now than I have in four weeks. I have you to thank. I promise I will take care of myself and you can go back to being just my bestie."

"..." I didn't feel that there was much to add and let an awkward silence draw itself out.

"I will go frolic in the sunshine soon. However, today I have to make some hard decisions at the demand of a very bossy landlady." A small smile broke out on my face.

"I don't mean to be so bossy, I know you can look after yourself. We were all worried."

"I know I messed up in more ways than one. Just give me a chance to prove it to you and this little bean." She placed a hand on her lower stomach and gazed fondly at it.

----

Back at the office I found that I had been optimistic in my assessment of how much still needed to be done. I was off by a factor of three and with an accomplished feeling I shut the last filing cabinet drawer. I took my lunch outside in the plaza. I chose the same bench that Cass and I had shared the night before and warmth traveled through me at the memory. I let it play through my mind. A sigh escaped me when I looked at my phone and no text from him about the proposed non bar plans. He hadn't given me a timeframe to expect it. That didn't change how it made me feel. Waiting around made it worse. I decided to put it out of my mind as much as I could.

So, I poked at René again via text to see if I could get something back. Maybe figure out when he planned to resurface. I hoped briefly that Evander had found him and I wouldn't have to worry about that anymore. I had implicit trust in Mr. Santos to straighten out the wayward gallery director. Whatever Evander wanted with René surely had something to do with the conversation I had overheard. That train of thought brought to mind the conversations from yesterday afternoon between he and I and the one with Ben this morning. I pulled out Evander's conspicously minimalistic card and with it another small debate over the legitimacy of his job offer. In the end, I chose to put my trust in Ben yet again and opened a new message on my phone. I sent off my acceptance of his offer. No sooner had I moved to place my phone back in my purse than my phone let me know I had a response.

Monday at 5pm

Meet you at Russo Gallery

Blacktie

So it begins. A small thrill traveled my spine at the reality of new direction I had just stepped in. I would have never dreamed that in a few short months I could have risen high enough to accompany a CEO to an event. My phone notified my again of a meesage received and I shook off my thoughts.

This time it was a photo and from Verity. Green grass, a fountain and sunny skies. I smiled as the next photo came through. It was a selfie of Verity rolling her eyes in the sunny landscape.

Is mommy dearest saitsfied with my self care?

With a soft snort I threw my phone in my purse and rolled my eyes in return. Upon entering the now clutter free office my attention fully turned to finding something to do with my afternoon. Now tidy and clean, the office held very little for me to fill the rest of my day. I could always just leave but that felt wrong. And too, what if René came in and I wasn't there the one time he does? That wouldn't end well. I wasn't too sure what kind of footing I was on with the trust requirements at the moment. Best to tow the line until I knew and couldn't screw anything up.

Making my rounds through the gallery, searching for something to do, I noticed that the East Galley was empty of customers. That gave me a perfect time to dust and freshen it up. I avoided 'The Hunger' the best I could, too unsettling given my recent dream. All said and done it took an hour and left me with another to spare. Thank goodness I have a change in roles coming up.

Again adrift, I wandered back to the loading bay and nosed around. There had been very few shipments of anything in or out since that first week. In fact, as I looked the few crates still there, I noticed that they were all the same ones that I checked in on my first day. Save for one. A crate on the smaller side was off in a corner. Small enough it probably could have been mailed and not have been costily shipped. Inspecting it I immediately found that the label on top had been torn off. A few remnants of it were carelessly left in place stuck to the wood. Nothing else of note stood out but I couldn't tear myself away. The longer I examined it the more I began to feel the curiousity in me spilling over. Maybe it was the lack of other productive things to do, maybe it was truly that fascinating. I wasn't really certain. I was unnaturally drawn to it and I wasn't able to put a finger on why. Finally, I gave into the compulsion to open the crate up.

My eyes searched the area for the crowbar, this crate though lacking a label had yet to be opened and inspected. I found it where I had left it over a month ago and returned posied to crack the crate open. The crow bar's teeth slid in the space between the lid and box and I levered it down. A satisfying creak filled the bay and I flinched. I continued cautiously to pry the lid off, wincing at every little noise that I caused along the way. When I did get a view of what was inside, I froze. Nestled in the packing peanuts was the top of an ornate, rectangular, wooden box. I had no recollection of seeing this object before but every fiber in my being screamed at me that it was mine. I carefully lifted it out of its nest and was mildly surprised at it's weight.

A small sliver of disappointment pierced me when it became apprent that the box was sealed shut. I immediately searched the peanuts for a anything that might help open it but nothing else was in the crate with the box. A frown settled on my face and I turned the wooden box around in my hands searching it for some clue of how to get it open. There wasn't a key hole, or any other immediately discernable way to open it. Perhaps it was made that way. But somehow I knew that it wasn't something that belonged in the gallery. It wasn't an artist's work we would feature. It was old, aged, almost ancient looking. The wood was burnished as if many hands had touched it through the passage of its long life. I gently shook it and felt something inside shift. I tried a few more times to find a way to open it and settled on it being an impossibility for now.

I carefully closed the crate back up but purposefully held onto the box. I knew better but something in me wouldn't let it go. It felt familiar. Inexplicably linked to me. Without much futher consideration I placed it in my purse, it barely fit. It took a few tries and shifting around the original contents of the purse before I could somewhat nestle it in and not immediately see it peeking out.

I cautiously made my way back to the office. Unsure of my next step. Maybe I had missed something small there I could do to wait out my shift. I dusted, wiped down the window in the door, and further straightened up the surfaces. I couldn't find anything else to do. Naturally, I then began to watch the clock.

The time I had left on my shift was literally staring me in the face. It was only a half an hour more, I could find some way to fill a measely thirty minutes. But the office walls started closing in on me. I can't stay here.

Grabbing my purse and jacket, I closed up the office, I was now set on finding some interesting pieces of art in the Main to occupy the remain twelve minutes. Greta and Silvia were both hovering around the gallery and gave me three or four uncomfortable looks as I drifted from one artwork to another. They were posessive about their customers, I tried to ignore their glares and consciously avoided the customers to make it crystal clear I wasn't there for that. My unintentional course steered me into a negalected and currently unoccupied corner of the gallery. I found myself there after following the maze of displays and collections. This part of the gallery housed some 'modern' impressionistic works. It was chronically undervisited. The pieces were at best average and could not compare with anythings we carried. The large price tags they displayed was the only notable quality they possesed.

Surrounded by paintings of outlandish mediocrity, I let my guard down. Hopefully soon, I wouldn't have to sidestep anyone here. The girls could then give this one sided competition a rest. I couldn't blame them. I had just shown up out of the blue. Instead of promptly disappearing as so many others had, I stuck around and got a promotion.

I let my eyes wander over the painted canvases surrounding me. This part of the galley really was cut off from the rest. With one way in and out. The most interesting of the pieces I surveyed was labeled "Midnight Garden". Dark blues, black and splashes of yellow and orange. It was derivitive of Starry Night and it knew it. It was unapologetically awful. Why did the gallery even agree to display and sell these? These imitations of greatness created by people who ought to know better. What are you getting all worked up about Addie, with the way René runs this place it's not surprising. As I turned my purse hit the wall, the treasure hidden away inside making a hollow thud. I pulled the purse open checking for any damage. I closed it up and securely put it back on my shoulder when none could be ascertained.

"Excuse me miss, I am afraid I am lost could you help me find my way back out of this rabbit hole?" A smooth, husky voice interrupted my sluething. An electric shock ran down my spine as its owner registered. The box forgotten I turned to meet the owner of that voice. He looked as good as always. His long dark hair styled loose and his tight dark colored T-shirt emphasizing the lines of his torso.

"I am afraid not, sir. If you have found your way here, there is simply no hope. Such a shame as we seem to lose far too many of our best customers this way." I smiled happily at him.

His feet quickly closed the distance between us. "We are trapped here? How insufferable! With no way out? What are we ever to do?" A mock shudder went through him. His acting is terrible!

"I am quite certain we are lost to time now. But do consider the silver lining, you get to spend the rest of your life with all these distinguished paintings created by the foremost preeminent artists." I gestured wildly around at the abominations that surrounded us.

"Psht, ah yes, the paintings." He considered a few looking at them closer. When he looked back at me he made a face of disgust. "That is quite the silver lining. Except it is not... See I figure you and I are both stuck here and paintings are nice, not these ones but just in general, they aren't something I would willingly give eternity to. You however, I might not mind giving up eternity for you." His corners of his eyes creased as his smirk widened and a sincere gleam entered his eyes.

His proximity, flattering words and gaze sent my pulse racing and a furious blush spread across my face. He was a mere foot away now and I was having a hard time keeping my thoughts straight enough to continue our conversation.

"Really?" I managed to squeak out. My question hung in the air between us then he moved a step forward and put his forehead against mine. My breath caught at his touch.

"Really really." His eyelids lowered over his eyes. His normal expression softened.

He held my gaze inbetween quick glances down at my lips. At the thought of what might happen next in this moment my racing heart rate continued to climb. Beads of sweat broke out on my forehead and my eyes flew wide open. There was no mistaking my panic. He took a step back and I felt that I could finally get a deep breath in. He continued his casually teasing tone returned.

"Now I hope you were only kidding about this being a blackhole of aristic damnation because...as much as I don't mind the company one bit" He glanced around, then back at me. "I promised a certain person some details on a proposed

"So what are you waiting for?" My bearings regained I waited expectantly for the details.

"Well, see the thing is," He looked about him and offered me his hand. "I am not kidding about wanting to get out of this torture chamber. It is giving me the heebie jeebies. And if you don't mind too much I would like to chat with you in a more inviting space."

I looped my arm through his and led him out of the gallery and into the plaza. I ignored the looks the two girls gave me on the way out a whole four minutes before the official end of my shift.

We stopped in front of what was apparently our bench. Here you go, a more inviting space. We both took a seat. I tried to situate my unusually awkward purse as my ears tuned in to hear what he had to say.

"I..." His pause pulled my attention away from my misbehaving purse and I watched him take a deep breath and grip his knees. His eyes were wider than usual and his smile smaller. I placed a hand on his shoulder and he sank back into the bench.

"You good?" I asked him.

"Here I thought it was those damn paintings that had me out of sorts." His smile was thin and wavered. His emerald eyes locked onto mine and I saw in them a low lying fear. What is going on? Alarm bells were going off in my head. The concern must have played across my face because he pulled me to his side. "Dells. Hey, I am okay. Just haven't done this in a long while. Can't quite believe how nervous I am." He rested his chin on top of my head.

I nestled in against his side, letting the feel of him surround me. "I find that hard to believe Mr. Moretti." He draped his arm around my waist and we sat in a comfortable silence. Silently, I marveled in how natural it felt to be with him. No matter the fact we had just met, and I was generally a mess around him. Being with him on the bench felt like it was the most natural thing in the world for us. The space and quiet did wonders for him. I felt his heartbeat even out.

"If it makes you feel any better I am pretty sure you have my unconditional approval of any plans you have. You know, it is quite embarassing to admit but even having lived here my whole life I have yet to see anything of the city." I examined his hand across my stomach, as I said this. His long fingers were calloused from work. His nails were short and tidy. Placing my arm over his arm, I laced my fingers inbetween his. He resonded with a squeeze.

"You haven't seen any part of the city?" He sounded skeptical. I shook my head.

"So far, just the schools, the orphangae, my house, the gallery" I gestured behind us. "Oh and some places to shop like the mall and those boutiques your sister brought us too." I twisted to get a look at him. Gauge what he was thinking. He peered down at me with a curious look.

"Orphanage?" I twisted back around. Shoot! I hadn't meant to being that up.

"Yeah, I grew up at the orphange off of 5th." I couldn't help but crumple inward. I never used to be ashamed of being an orphan. Why would I be, I had had no choice in the matter. It was simply fact. It shouldn't matter, snap out of it. It did matter to me though, how Cass took this news. And what if he wanted to dig deeper. I wasn't sure how much I should tell him. What specific rules there were for this in the trust. That also shouldn't matter!

"Hey sorry. I didn't mean to pry." He squeezed my hand in his. "Well, how about this. I am feeling lucky. Let's go with plan A." I could feel his voice resonante in his chest against my back. I quietly waited for more but nothing else was forthcoming.

"Plan A?" I straightened up and looked up at him, his profile anyway. He was staring straight ahead mulling something over.

"Yep, Plan A." His attention turned back to me, anticipation plainly on his features. "What do you have to say to spending the day with yours truly at Occidental Park?" I felt my face light up at the suggestion.

The orphanage had organized a trip there when I was younger. I never went though, I had gotten ill beforehand and had to stay behind. I grabbed his arm.

"I would like that very much." His hand covered mine on his arm, and it gave a squeeze. Small sparks danced across my skin. "I wanted to go so many times when I was younger but it never worked out."

His eyebrows both raised at my enthusiastic response. "To think I had been so worried you would't like it." His smirk was back. "So, how about Saturday then? I can pick you up at 9am." His suggestion brought my enthusiasm to a crushing halt.

I didn't feel comfortable letting Ben find out that I was going to spend the day with Cass. The way he had reacted before when I was merely chatting with him was enough to let me know he wouldn't approve. For what reason remained to be seen or heard. And I figured that if he had had a good one he would have shared. Since he hadn't, it must be a personal thing. And I wasn't going to give an opportunity to interfere.

"Saturday not a good day for you?" His next words were tipped in anxiety, his enthusiasm dimmed. "We can go Sunday if that works better for you." He offered, drawing his brows together as he waited.

"No, no Saturday is fine. It is perfect. I will meet you there." I quickly gave him reassurance. And he visibly relaxed at my explanation. "When does it open?"

"10am" . We both sat back, his arm around my shoulder and enjoyed another few more happy moments in each other's company.